Collapsible shipping crate



April 25, 1933. P. H. BLOMBERG COLLAPSIBLE SHIPPING CRATE Filed Jan. 29,1930 Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED STATES' PATENT voI-FICE 2ER HJALMERBLOMBERG, or cIIIcAGo, ILLINOIS ooLLArsIBLE SHIPPING CRATE Applicationilled January 29, 1930. Serial No. 424,311.`

This invention relates to a collapsible shipconnecting elementswhereafter the wall ping crate and has special reference to a cratemembers are pivoted inwardly against the in which poultry or any othercommodity, inbase. This construction is also comparacludingl,merchandise and the like, may be tively inexpensive to manufacture andcomshipped, the crate being collapsible to occupy paratively lightinweight. y p i 55 a minimum of space when in an empty con'dl- Otherobjects and advantages will hereintion. after the more fully describedand for a more Y More particularly,`this invention has refcompleteunderstanding of the characteristic Y erence to a collapsible cratecomprising a features of this invention, referencer may l Wood or metalbase havin inwardly folding now be had tothe following description when60 side wall members hinge ly secured thereto taken together with theaccompanying drawwhich together with a top member forms an ing, in whichlatter: y f y inclosure when in an extended condition. Figure 1 is aperspective view of the de- The side wall and top members arepreferviceof this invention showing the top thereably wire frames, whenemployed in shipof in a raised position; 65 ping poultry, the top framebeing slidable Fig. 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showon one sidewall in a. manner such that when ing the side walls thereof in acollapsed con'l the latter walls are folded inwardlyon the dition; vbase, the top' frame need not extendbeyond F 1g. 3 is a perspective viewof one .corner the confines of the walls. of the device showing moreVparticularly the lIt is to be noted that the freight rate oninterconnecting meansfor `the side walls; empty crates is the same as onfull crates for Fig. 4 isalan sectional view takenon the the reason thatthe same space is ordinarily line 4 4 of ig. 3; y y employed for one asfor the other. The pres- F ig. 5 is a perspective view of a fragmen- 5ent invention contemplates the provision of tary portion of the slidableconnection be- 75 a device which may be collapsed so that six tween thetop andone side wall of the deor more empty crates may readily occupyvice; the space which one full crate takes. It will Fig. 6 S aperspective/.View of the locking be further noted that all of theelements enmechanism for securing the top to the Side 30 tering into theconstruction are permanently Walls when in an extended position and for80 organized so that when in a collapsed or exsecuring all of theelements in position when tended condition there are no loose parts in acollapsed condition;

which may become misplaced. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a corner ofOne of the most important contributing a modified formV ofinterconnecting means factors determining its utility is the durafor theside walls and 85 bility thereof which must be very pronounced I Fig. 8is a perspective view` of a corner because of the great amount of misusewhich of still another form .of interconnecting such a device almostalways occasions in means for the side walls. handling by hurriedfreight attendants. The Referring now more particularly to theconstruction,particularly the locking means drawing,'the devicel of thisinvention is il- 9@ for connecting the side walls in an extendedlustrated as comprising a base 10 having condition, is suchv that it maywithstand side wall members 11,12,13 and 14 pivotally many times itsownweight. v mounted thereon and a top `member 15 slid- Other importantfeatures of the construcably connected to the side wall member 13. tion`are the simplicityof the construction The side wall members 1l, 12, 13and 14, 95 and ease with which the opera-ting elements when employed aspoultry shipping crates, may be manipulated. Av sliding lmovementpreferably comprise wire frames having a of a rod disposed at eachcorner or a simiwire mesh of any desired Vtype fastened lar movement ofone pair of frame members thereto in any usualY manner, the particular cis all that is required to unlock the intertype depending uponthercharacter of the 10( y poultry or live stock shipped. kOf course, ifmerchandise and dry goods are shipped,

-the side wall members may be made solid irst whereafter the members 11and 13 are pivoted thereover. VIn order that the members 11 and 13 `mayrest on to-p of the members 12 and 14, the hinge members 16 for theformer pair, are raised the thickness of the side wall members 12 and14,.as shown particularly in Figure 1 of the drawing.

The top 15 likewise preferably kcomprises av wire` outer lframe whenemployed as a poultry crate covered with a suitable wire mesh, in theYinstance of the drawing the particular` mesh comprising laterally andlongitudinally extending cross wires welded tov the outer frame work as'is also shown withreference to the side walls.

A pairof looped members 17 are fixedly secured to the wire frame on oneside thereof providing openings therebetween to receive a pair of guidemembers 18 in the form of wire rods. Referring more particularly to Fig.it will benoted that the guide memberv 'or rod 18 has an end portion 19fiXedly secured to the wire frame of the side walls 13. The rod 18 isoffset relatively to the plane of the side wall 13 in order to ob` viatethe necessity of offsetting the wire frame of the-top 15.

In order to lie within the confines of thek side wall members when thedevice is in a collapsed condition, the top must be slidably mounted inaddition to being pivotally mounted kto open when in an extendedcondition. It is apparent that the loopedimember 17 will provide apivotal movement for the top and will also permit the entire top to beymoved backwardly along the guide members 18, the entire width of theside wall member, the rod 18 having a second offset portion 20 wherebythe rod 18 is substantially longer than the width ofthe side wall 13.Therefore, when the side wall members are pivoted inwardly toward eachother the top member 15 is moved lrearwardly on the guide members 18 inorder that it occupies substantially the same position relatively to thebase 10 as when it is in an extended position. yThis collapsed conditionof the device is shown more particularlyin Fig. 2. Y

y'Referring now more particularly to Fig. 3

Y:operating looped portions 21, 22, 23 and 24 on each edge of theadjacent side walls, one pair of looped portions 21 and 22 on thewireframe 14 being 'disposed between the other pair ct looped portions 23Vand 24, which latterI are disposed on the wire frame 11. These loopedportions are preferably formed integrally with the wire frame members,although it is apparent that separate rings or eyelets may be welded, orotherwise secured directly to a wire'frame member, or any other typeVof* Jframe member. Similarly, it is readily' apparentthat should theframe members be madeof angle iron, recesses may be provided thereinhaving the vsame functions that `are taught by the lpresent application.l

The eyelets 21, 22, 23 and 24 are preferably axially lined when in avertical position in order to receive therein a rod member 25, whichlatter isslidably journalled in and Carried by the intermediate eyelets21 and 22. The rod 25 is offset as at 26 to provide a seat-for abuttingthe eyelet 22vto prevent a further downward movement thereof. The upperpart of the oii'set portion'of the rod 25 prevents a movement in theopposite Y direction beyond a certain point which will hereinafter bemore fully discussed. The offl set, therefore, prevents the displacementfrom the frame in which it is carried.

, The eyelet 23 is provided with a cut-away portion 27 communicatingwith the opening in the eyelet. r-The diameterof the rod 25 is reducedas at 28 to permit the reduced p0rtion vto pass through the opening 27.However, when the rod 26 is in its lowered position as shown in Fig. 3,the rod engages all of the eyelets and' thereby connects the adjacentframe members. When the rod 25 is moved upwardly to a second'position-the'reduced portion 28 may be brought into alignment with theopening 27 and the lower end of the rod disengages entirely the .eyelet24 whereatter the frame or side wall 11 may be'pivote'd inwardly on thebase. The framej14 is, therefore, also disconnected and may similarly bemoved to its pivoted position on the base. These interconnecting meansare disposed on each of Athe four corners of the device and operate inthe same manner as outlined above with reference to that means shown inFig. 3.

lio

' vReferring now more particularly to Fig. 6 'of the drawing, the devicetherein illustrated isa locking mechanism comprising a pin 29 pivotallymounted as 'at 30 to an offset portion in the wire frame of'thetop 15.The pin has a reduced area 32 at the end near the pivotal point forpassing through a cut-away portion 33 in a ring memberV 34, the ringmember being suitably secured to the side wall 11 as by means of weldingthe same to one of the cross wires forming the wire mesh. A second ring35, corresponding tothe ring 34, is disposed in cut-away portions of thebase whereby the pin 29 vengages the same when in a collapsed conditionas in Fig. 2. The free end of the pin 29 is bifurcated and spread as at36 to act -as a stoprfor the spring 37 limiting its movement in anoutward direction, the spring engaging a sleeve 38 hav ing an operatinghandle 39 extending outp 29 may pass through the opening 33 of the ring34.

' When the pin 29 is axially aligned with respect to the ring 34 thesleeve 38 is permitted to cover Vthe reduced portions32 by extendinginto the opening in the ring 34. Likewise when it is desired to releasethe pin 29 from the ring 34, the sleeve 38 is withdrawn from the ring 34thus exposing the reduced portions 32 and permitting the same to passoutV the opening 33 when pivoted at the point 30.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 7 of the drawing, the side wallmember 14 thereof is shown as formed of a pair of angle iron enduprights 40 connected together by horizontally extending `wire members41, although it is to be understood that the angle iron 40 may beextended in one piece to form the entire frame to receive a wire mesh orsheet. The side wall member is preferably formed of an upright bar 42 ateach end interconnected by wires 43 to form a frame for receiving a wiremesh or sheet. It is also to be understood that the upright 42 may beextended around to form an integral frame similiar in eect to the frame14 in its modified form.

The upright 42 is provided with a pair of hook-like members 44 which arepreferably serrated and deformed from the material'of the upright to fitin the slots 45 formed in the angle iron member 40 and hook over thematerial bounding one side of the slot to secure the upright 42`to themember 40. The

hooking action is-accomplished by means of pivoting the frame member 11on the free end 46 of a pair of hinge members 47 (only one hinge being'shown). Thus a double pivot'provides a substantially vertical movementof the bar 42 relativelyto the angle iron40. 'A

The member 14 is `pivota'lly mounted in bearing 48 which, like the hinge47, is secured to the base of the crate. Both members 11 and 14 pivotinwardly as inthe previously described embodiment. i

The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 8 is similar in most respects to Fig.7 in that 'one side wall member 11 is pivotally mounted at 46 to thefree `end of a hinge 47 to provide for a substantially vertical movementwith respectto the other side wall member 14. In so doing, a pairof hookmembers 49 on the member 14 are permitted to disengage a second pair ofhook-members 50on the member 11. In perhaps the least expensiveform ofconstruction, the frame vof the members 11' and 14 may be of wood andthehook members may be common nails which `are bent over after being driventhrough the wood t'o form hooks. However, :the form illustratedcontemplates the use of wire frames with pins'welded or otherwisesecured thereto to be bent into the shape desired.

While several forms of this invention are l herein shown and described,it is tobe understood that other embodiments may be apparent tothose'skilled inthe artv without departing from the spirit and scope ofthis invention, and, therefore, the same is to belimitedl only by theVscope of the prior'art and the appended claims. 1 i

' I claim?,

1. In a device of the character described, a base, side wall membersmounted topivot in# wardly toward each other on said base, a top forengaging said sidewall members in an extended condition,and guidingmeansextending across the widthof one Aof said side wall members, saidtop slidably engaging said guiding means and detachably engaging theother of said sidewalls whereby said top need not extend beyond theconfines of said side walls when said device is in a collapsedcondition.= Y i i i f 2. In a device'of thefchara'cter described, abase, side wall members mounted to pivot inwardly toward each other onsaid base, a top for engaging said side wall members in an extendedcondition, and a pair of guide memberssecured to and extending acrossthe width of one of said side wall members, said top having means forslidably engaging said guide members and detachably engaging the otherof said side walls whereby said top need not extend beyondtheconiines'of said side walls when said device is in a collapsedcondition.

3. In a device .ofthe character described, a

base,y side wallv members mounted -to pivot inwardly toward each otheron said base, a top for engaging said sidewall members in ,an extendedcondition, a rod secured to and extending across the width of one ofsaid side wall'members, and a looped member on said top for slidablyengaging said rod, said top detachably engaging the other of said sidewallzmembe'rs whereby said top need not extend beyond the confines ofsaid side walls when said device is in a collapsed condition.

4. In a device of the character described, a base, side wall memberscomprising a wire frame mounted to pivot inwardly toward each other onsaid base, and a wire frame top member for covering said side wallmembers when in an extended condition, a pair of rod members connectedbetween opposite side wires of one of said side wall members and spacedapart from the plane of the wall, and a pair of looped portions on oneside of said top member for receiving said rod members whereby said topneed not extend beyond the confines of said side walls when said deviceis in a collapsed condition.

5. VIn a device of the character described, a base, side walls includinga wire frame pivotally mounted on said base, a topmember for said sidewall -members, said wire frames having a pair of cooperating loopedportions on each of the adjacent edges thereof, and an element heldagainst displacement between one oit' said pair of looped portions andextending through all of said looped portions for detachably connectingsaid members.

6. In a device of the character described, a base, side walls includinga wire frame lpivotally mounted on said base, a top mem'- berk for saidvside wall members, said wire frames having a pair of cooperating loopedportions formed integrally therewith on each of the adjacent edgesthereof, and an element held against displacement between one of saidpairs of looped portions and extending'through all of said loopedportions for detachably connecting said members.

7. In a` device of the character described, a base, side walls pivotallymounted on said base, a top member for said side wall members, andinterconnecting means on adjacent edges of said side walls, said meanscomprising cooperating eyelets on adjacent edges of said wall members,and a rod extending through said eyelets for connecting said wallmembers, said rod having a reduced portion of a diameter to permit itspassage through a notch in one of said eyelets to collapse said sidewall members.

8,'InV a device of theV character' described, a base, side wallspivotally mounted on sai-d base, atop member for said walls, and inter`connecting means on adjacent edges of said side walls, said meanscomprising a pair of cooperating recessed members at each of said edges,a locking element slidably journalled in and carried by one of saidmembers an-d extending through the other of said members when in oneposition for connecting said side walls, said element being slidable outof engagement with said latter vrecessed member to,

ried by one of said recessed members andV extending through the otherof'said members when in one position for connecting said side walls,said rod having an offset portion to guard against displacement thereofand a reduced portion of a diameter to permit its passage through anopening communicating with said recess in one of the vother of said frecessed members when 1t 1s desired to col-v lapse fsaid side walls.

10. In a device of the ycharacter described, a base, side wallspivotally mounted ori said base, a top member for said walls, andinterconnecting means on adjacent edges of said side walls, said meanscomprising Ya pair of cooperating looped portions on each edge of theadjacent side walls, one pair of looped portions being disposedbetweenthe other of said looped portions, a rod slidably journalled inand carried by the intermediate pairL Vof looped portions and extending`through the other pair of looped portions when in one position forconnecting. said side walls, said rod having a reduced portion of adiameter to permit its passage through an opening in one of the outerlooped portions when it is desired to collapse said side walls. 11. In adevice of the character described, a locking member comprising akpivotally mounted pin having a portion thereon of a reduced diameter, aring member for receiving said pin, said ring having a cut-away portioncommunicating with the axial opening thereof for permitting said reducedportion "to pass therethrough, a sleeve slidable over said pin member tofit in said ring member, and a spring normally urging said sleeve in aposition in said ring enclosing-said reduced portion to preventdisengagement of said pin and ring members.

12. In a device of the character described, a base, side walls pivotallymounted on said base, cooperating sidewalls pivotally mounted onpivotally mountedV members of said base, and fixed means on each of saidside walls cooperating to connect detachably said side walls in a fixedrelation.

13. In a device of the characterV described, a base, side wallspivotally mounted on said base, cooperating side walls pivotally mountedon pivotally mounted members of said base, some of said side wallshaving slotted portions for receivingl xed projections on the other ofsaid side walls to connect detachably all of said Side Walls in a xedrelation.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

PER HJ ALMER BLOMBERG.

